IPL 2012 Live: Kolkata Knight Riders v Pune Warriors Preview

It will be Pune Warriors taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the fifth season of the Indian Premier League on Saturday as two matches are scheduled for the day. The two teams are separated by a significant number of points on the points table.

Pune Warriors have had a miserable time off late, losing four matches on the trot. With only eight points so far, the proposition of them having any chance of making it to the final four looks increasingly difficult.

Against Mumbai Indians, they fell short by one run and that defeat could ultimately prove costly. Captain Sourav Ganguly, criticized for his 24-ball 16 on Thursday, will be in action against his former franchise and will be hoping to make an impression together with Michael Clarke who seeks to drive his team back to winning ways.

Jesse Ryder and Robin Uthappa will also need to be a bit more free in their approach to score runs that are expected off them in the early overs.

At the other end of the spectrum are Kolkata Knight Riders who have been unbeaten in their last five matches – a record that sees them lift up in to second place.

With 13 points already, and facing a weak opposition, the match could very well be their chance to impose their authority on one of the four semi-final spots. Gautam Gambhir, the captain, will be pleased with his own form as well as the team’s, after his half-century effort led the way to victory against Chennai Super Kings.

Brendon McCullum and Jacques Kallis are the other star performers with the bat while the bowling duties will rest with Sunil Narine and Brett Lee. The team overall bears a semblance of unity and consistency as they look forward to winning another match.